Shanghai Nights
She's sure that he won't show up. Blair Waldorf has been waiting at Bar Rouge for a little more than an hour and her husband hasn't shown up although he said he would. He also missed their lunch at the 62 lé Bec and their plans for a romantic afternoon at the French Concession. She understands that he was busy – Chuck is opening not one, and not two, but three hotels in the area and he wanted everything perfect. But that was why Blair had made sure to plan their time in Shanghai with a very strict and thought-out manner. He was going to do business from Monday through Friday, and then Friday afternoon he would be all hers, until late Sunday night. Not all week long.
She hadn't come to Shanghai to spend her time on her own, fending herself from ill-mannered expats that didn't know the difference between being, well, an English teacher at some international school and being a senior editor for W Magazine. Her nose wrinkles as she sees a group of teens walking into the bar like they own the place. She can't lie and say that she doesn't like their choice of haute couture street wear and club-inspired up-dos and makeup, but they are still children and she doesn't like it.
"Teenagers. They're probably going to take some pictures and leave. It's only midnight after all. And the Kardashians aren't here, either." A man that's leaning on the rail that separates her booth from the bar area gives her a sneaky smile. He's young, but still older than Blair's 26-years-of-age. His white button down is tight, letting Blair see his toned upper body, and the black slacks and shoes let her know that not only he has an okay style, but money.
"The Kardashians?" Blair asks, but she is far less interested in the famous-because-they're-famous sisters than she leads on. "They are allowed in here?"
"Bar Rouge is their favorite spot." He is now fully facing Blair and she can see that he's about as tall as Chuck and that his ocean-blue eyes remind her of Nate's. "It's a little less exclusive in the early weekend, but it tends to get better as the night goes on and the clubs get packed. They will probably head out to Le Baron from here."
"I see." Blair has heard of Le Baron, and her plan was to visit it after a few nice drinks with Chuck, but now she doesn't want to. "Are you here alone?"
"Not really, I'm here with a few friends. Some American, some Europeans." He muses. "We have a booth outside, I'm just waiting for someone to arrive." He signals with his head the entrance to their right. It's easy to see from where Blair is sitting, and she guesses it's an even clearer view from where he was standing. "Mind to join? Or is your party too crowded?" He raises an eyebrow to the empty booth that can hold up to ten people, and Blair feels her cheeks blazing.
"I will join, no problem." She says in a prideful manner, and then glances at the entrance herself. She hoped for a split second that Chuck would show up right that moment, but he didn't. Instead, a brunette with long legs appeared and cheerfully waved in Blair and the mysterious man's direction.
"Just in time, Anette is here." He smiles at Blair and puts out his hand, which Blair takes.
She is out of her booth as soon as the brunette has reached their side. She's tall – supermodel tall, even taller than Serena. Her legs seem to go on for hours, and Blair realizes that she strikes an odd resemblance to Vanessa, the hipster-ish girl that once dated Nate. Her olive skin glows to the nightclub lights, and her smile is pearly white. She is also wearing a sequence dress that redirects all lights and casts little golden specks on her and the man's clothes. Blair cannot help but feel that she is somewhat out of place, with her white lace blouse and soft-pink velvet skirt.
"I'm Turner, Turner Dupont." He introduces himself, also extending Blair a business card. He, like her, is an editor of some Chinese magazine Blair hadn't heard about. "This is my friend, Anette. She's a local model."
"Blair Waldorf, from Waldorf Designs." She extends her hand towards Anette, which the model takes. It never hurt to recruit someone like her, despite how much she intimidated her. That is something she learned from Chuck. "And W Magazine's Senior Features Editor."
"Blair Waldorf! I loved your mother's spring collection. Those white dresses were so ethereal!" Anette praises and Blair feels a little less intimidated. The model also has a very soft French accent that gives her points in Blair's book. She gives the model a smile and lets go of her hand.
"You should come in for a fitting. My mother would love someone like you." Blair's smile widens, and she can see the long legs trembling in excitement. "Don't forget to give me your number."
"Would never!" Anette assures her.
"So, we've got ourselves a big one." Turner jokes, and Anette replies with a smile. Blair chuckles and shrugs just enough. "Well, ladies, shall we?"
Turner points at the terrace and Blair is the first one to start walking. After her, Anette almost leaps while Turner watches amused.
"So, who are these friends exactly?" Blair questions before she reaches for the door. She likes to gather intel before meeting new people, a habit that didn't change much since her high school days.
"Some other models, a photographer, and a writer." Turner says.
"Oh, Daniel is such a charm, you'll love him. He's just the best." Anette assures Blair, who shivers at the sound of his name. But it couldn't be him, in Shanghai, in an exclusive bar like Bar Rouge. Not in a million years.
"Anette has a little crush on our friend Daniel." Turner explains while reaching for the door himself. He leaves it open for Blair to go through first. "I promise they don't bite."
Blair breathes in, convincing herself that it isn't Dan Humphrey who they're talking about. It just couldn't be. So, she smiles and thanks Turner for his help with the door and proceeds. The terrace is a little lonely since there's no music and the cool spring winds keep people inside. The Bund looks magnificent from there, all lit up. The models and the two men are talking and laughing when they join the group. A quick scan and Blair meets a pair of dark-brown eyes that she thought she wouldn't see in the near future.
"Humphrey." His last name escapes her lips, although not with the sardonic tone it always carries.
"Blair." He says with a half-smile that lets her know he's as confused and surprised as she is.
"Oh, Dan! You know Blair Waldorf? I guess I mustn't be surprised since you are both from New York." Anette reaches from behind Blair and grabs onto Dan's arm, which makes Blair flinch with confusion, anger, and a tiny bit of pain, although no one notices.
"We are…" Dan starts, but cannot bring himself to say something. What were they? Acquittances? Friends? Frenemies? Blair doesn't know either.
"We've known each other since high school." Blair says, providing an answer that doesn't really say anything about their relationship, but its length.
"Amazing!" Anette says. "And you didn't know you'd meet here?"
"No, it's been a strange coincidence." Blair smiles and the group smiles back at her, except for Dan. He was never the one with the upper hand when it came to social gatherings and their inner workings. "But excuse for being so rude, I'm Blair Waldorf."
The models introduce themselves as Lu Yi, Tamara, Xiao Ping, and Cora, and they are all Chinese.
"I'm half-Korean." Tamara clarifies for Blair, while Cora says, "I am half-British."
The photographer identifies himself as Lucas Brown, a Californian correspondent that mostly covers expat news in Shanghai.
"I do some odd jobs for Turner's fashion magazine, too." He says.
"Fantastic! Let me invite everyone a drink… to new friendships!" Blair offers to her new acquittances. She glances at Dan who in return glances at her. "I'll go order them."
Without waiting for an answer, Blair rushes inside with her heart pounding on her chest. How did Dan Humphrey manage to fluster her that much? And why the hell was he in Shanghai, of all places? She gives a quick eye to her booth and notices that Chuck isn't there yet. She wonders if he is ever going to show up, and wishes he does, because he was the only remedy to the heartache she felt when she saw Serena's husband.